Why I Started Writing

I initially started writing to write better blog posts. For the past few years despite having a blog……or two, I was never really committed to writing. I wanted to share but I wasn’t prepared to put in much effort . I’m bit of a procrastinator and a bit off an expert of avoidance behaviour.

To be honest I wasn’t really interested in writing at all, I just liked the idea of it. Being able to share my thoughts in the most economically written way possible, hoping that my audience could “read” my mind and know what I was trying to convey in each short post was what I was attempting to achieve.

I was lazy.

I envied people who wrote creatively and wished that I continued with my creative and expressive writing as a child but I didn’t. My adult writing life was filled with dry boring repetitive reports that I wrote well.

My Resistance to Writing

I resisted writing because I considered myself to be lazy (or maybe because I was told this and I became it, who knows??).

I’d been told that I couldn’t write well and because I didn’t read enough fiction I wouldn’t be a good creative writer. I carried that with me for most of my life until now.

This is where my writing journey begins and my life changes.

I have a lot to share and I want to share it.

Spending my Tuesdays with writers as it so happens (as part of our blogging mastermind group) inspired me. Feeling a little intimidated and apprehensive initially, I soon became more comfortable realising how encouraging and supportive they all were and I felt safe to explore my writing pursuits.

Melinda Tognini (Author of Many Hearts One Voice) suggested I begin with morning pages (an exercise from the Artist’s Way book) , which I admit I’ve heard about for many years but have never read. So I committed to a month of writing three pages every morning. I chose to hand write instead of type, my thoughts and writing, flow more freely when I hand write. It was hard work to begin with. My fingers would go numb from years of not writing (with the digital age most of us type) my hand and arm would cramp up and my mind would draw blanks a lot of the time. And that’s what I would write, over and over until something else came to mind.

I knew about free flow writing because it was a technique I would use with my psychology clients as part of their therapeutic process but I had never really committed to it myself as a daily habit. I’m glad I did.

What Happened When I Stopped Writing

When my month of writing ended, I still continued to write but not as diligently or consistently. Like most newly formed habits it began to fade and I began to revert back to my old ways. Aimlessly wandering around in my mind looking for the “right” door to open, spending too much time on wondering and wandering with a lack of purpose and direction, trying to rediscover my purpose in life. I felt lost and I would even suggest that I became a little depressed. It was to my detriment that I stopped my daily morning pages.

That magic 30 days didn’t quite work for me. You know that 30 day form a habit theory you read in most self help books.

But it didn’t take me long to realise the effect that my daily writing habit had on my life.

I counselled myself and knew what I needed to do.

How My Life Changed When I Started Writing

During my month of writing my daily life changed for the better. I was more on purpose, I had clarity and direction and I was emotionally settled. I wasn’t lazy. I wrote creatively, the first time in a very long time. I read more fictional novels and I wrote stories which I am yet to edit and share.

I now love writing. I’m inspired to write. I write because :

it helps me get a deeper sense of myself, a deeper conversation with myself

it’s my way of thinking out loud, to problem solve, to think, to alleviate any anxieties or stresses I may have

it gives me purpose

it’s therapeutic and cathartic

writing can change lives

it gives me clarity and direction

I find solace in my writing

to inspire myself and others

it provides me with a road map and helps me take stock of my life

it relaxes me, especially if I am feeling overwhelmed and flustered

it’s my creative outlet

it’s where I can create fantasy worlds and make believe and tell stories

I can take my writing anywhere I go, I don’t need special equipment

it provides me with an opportunity to express, to understand and to remember

it makes me happy and brings me joy to be able to share

it gives me an opportunity to connect

Discovering that writing brings me joy as much as my sketching has opened up more of my world and for that I am grateful.

Like all things the more I practice the better I’ll get. I didn’t need to be born with a special (writing) talent or skill, although it would help I’m sure. It’s my commitment to the doing and an openess to improve, that will grow me as a writer, an artist and whatever else I choose to do.

And as I continue to develop myself as a writer I look forward to sharing my stories, my thoughts, my ideas, my creativity, my experiences and my discoveries of life, food, travel, and daily happiness with you.

In the mean time find what brings you joy and go there!

I’d love to know your thoughts on writing. Comment in the section below.

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Hi I’m Aggie

A writer, blogger, adventure artist and a retired psychologist exploring, discovering and experiencing life and happiness through travel, food, art, writing and other things. Embracing everyday-ness, documenting daily life in my sketchbook and telling stories. I'm here to share, connect and hoping to inspire. The world is my studio and I'm so glad you stopped by. More about Aggie ...